Garment hanger



ZASL ,20%

` J. w. EATON GARMENT HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OGL. 30, 1946HIIIIIHIIIHHIUI INVENTOR. Jaime@ Wawz BY @amm AW @M 25W 5W@ 5 W49. J;WyEAToN RALZOG GARMENT HANGER Filed Oct. 50, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTQR. Jamai' M E'aazz tBY Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT yOFFICE GARMENT HANGER James W. Eaton, Chicago, Ill. vApplication october so, 1946, serial No. 706.641

(ci. 22a- 91) 9 Claims. l

The present invention relates to improvements in garment hangers.

More particularly, the present invention relates to hangers of the typefor supporting clothes such as mens trousers, womens skirts or othergarments and alsov adapted for supporting coats or the like.

An object of thepres'ent invention is to provide a hanger having a firmgrip which hanger is readily rnanipul'atable either to perform itsgripping relationship or to be released from such gripping relationship.

A further object is to Aprovide an improved hanger for trousers, skirtsor the like, having releasable means for holding coats.

A further object 4is to provide an improved hanger which is simple andsturdy and well adapted to perform its functions.

A further object is to provide an improved hanger which sreadilyadaptable for manufacture on a mass production basis and which may bepacked and shipped in a minimum of space.

A further object is to provide a hanger which is cheap to manufacturebut eiiicient in service.

A further object is to `provide an improved hanger for trousers, skirtsor the like which is readily adaptable for the addition of simple andsturdy means for supporting Coats or the like.

A further object is to provide a hanger well adapted to meet the needsof ordinary usage.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of oneembodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a. view in rear elevation of the structure shown in Figure1;

Figure 3 is a view of the interior of the rear portion of the hanger,said view being taken along the plane indicated by thev arrows 3-3 ofFigure 6;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the planeindicated by the arrows 4 4 in Figure 2; j

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figures 1and 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by thearrows 6 6 in Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but illustrating the structure innon-clamping position.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention includes twoclamping members Il] and II, of which the clamping member. i0 will bereclamping` member II will be referredto as the rear clamping member.Said clamping members I0 and II are swung about a common axis providedby a straight pin portion I2 which forms part of a hookmember I3. Saidhook member I3 may be of relatively stiff wire. In the illustratedembodiment of thepresent invention, the two clamping members fjandA IIare shown as being of substantially the same conformation, though theiridentity of conformation is not necessary in thebroader aspects of theinvention. However, it is desirable from a manufacturing standpointthatsaid clamping members I0 and II be substantially identical, the slightdiierences in said members being made therein from blanks which may beturned out from the same set of dies.

The clamping members IU and II may be advantageously made of lightweightmetal, stamped fromthe same set oi dies. Y Each of the clamping membersI0 and yII is yprovided with the vertically disposed portion I4 and`with the cross bar I'5. Each clamping member IIL'II is cupped out, aconstruction which will be clear from the drawings and the top parto'f`each'portion I4 is provided with a pair of bearing portions I6, I6apertured for receiving the straight pin portion I2 of the hook memberI3, One bearing portion I6 on each upright portion i4 may be swedgedinwardly in the directonoi the axis of the pin portion I2, whereby thetwo `clamping members III, II may be symmetrically disposed with respectto each other. Said hook member I3 is provided with the portion I1disposedA in substantially right angmlar relationship with the pinportion I2. The other end of 4.the pin portion I2 is provided with awasher I8, one side of which engages a side of the upright'port'ion;I4,the other 'side of which abuts against the riveted end of said pinportion I2. Said upright portion I 4 and the washer I8 prevent the frontand rear clamping members ID, II from spreading in a direction parallelwith the airis of the pin portion I2.

The iront and rear ciampingmembers I0, II are urged apart by the `springI9, the mid-portion of which is coiled around the pin portion I2. One oithe extremities of the spring I9 engages against the inner surface ofthe front clamping member lll and the other extremity of said springengages against the inner surface of rear clamping member II.

Means are providedfornolding the front and rear clamping memlcsers]4 IU,II in operative clamping relationship witn'each other. Such ferred to asthe front clamping member and the means include an elongated stru-tmember 20 which may be formed by a wire, one extremity of which iscoiled around the pin portion I2 of the hook I3 and the other extremityof which is held within a swedged strap portion 2I located adjacent tothe bottom of the rear clamping member II. A link 22 is provided, havinga loop 23 encircling the strut 2|! (Figure 3), having the portion 24extending through the opening 25 in the front clamping member I0. Theforward extremity of -said link .is reversely bentas indicated byvthenumeral 26. Said-'reversely bent port-ion 2B lies in co-planarrelationship with the portion 24 of the link and assur-es that the linkv1 22 will not turn and that the loop 23 willllOtvget. into jammingrelationship with the strut 420` as said loop slides along said strut.Thefbent...por

tion indicated by the numeral 2'II between the secured thereto acup-shaped handle member 28. Said cup-shaped handle member 28 may beswedged out of sheet metal and isgrooved on its outer surface midway ofitswidth vfor receiving the bent portion 2l of the link 22. The Vloweredge 29 of the cup-shaped member 28 is adapted to engage in, teeth30,.`30flocatedn-lboth sides of the slot 25 in thefrontgrippingfmemberI0. The cup-shaped'rmember 28- is providedwith the upstanding lip3Ild`which'insuresrthat said. cupey shaped memberf28',will-clearv theteeth 30, 30

when said member'28 is moved jupwardly. V*In other words, -thefrontclamp-in'g',member I9 and the strut member, "formv abutments forthe. link 22, oneorwhichabutments bei-ng provided" with teeth with'whichthe; link ma'yfeng'agefor holding the clamping membersin` a Ypluralityofv Each of the coat supporting members V33 may be made of relativelystiff wire. As illustrated, each of the vmembers 33 is provided vwiththe' midportion 34 forsupporting a side ofthe shoulder portion ofa coat.Each member 33 at one of its extremities is bent downwardly 'asindicatedby the numeral :'35 and then slantedfas indicated by the numeral 3.6,l(Figure 2). The otherfexf tremity of eac-h member33 is. bent yintosubstanf tial parallelism with thec'rossbars I5,',I.5 as .indicated bythe numeral 31. The inner extremity' of the portion 3I'i'scrimped,upwardlyslightly as indicated by the numeral38 and thefcorres'ponding endportion 39 of themember 33 is dise posed in parallelvrelationship with the portionv 3I,.lv The slanting end portion 36 ofeach niernberf 33 is adapted to (be inserted through an aperture in theside wall'of theA upstanding portion I4 of the rear clamping member II.Said slanting portion 36 is inserted under a corresponding strapportionIIUAstruck out vfrom the back wall l' of said rear clampingmember: I I.f Each ,memberv 33 will be 'given a.n'aturalbias tending 'tothrust the end portion thereofint'o the corresponding crossbar I5 sothatwhen thezen'ds 33' and39 thereof have been insertedinto the reargripping.. 'said meirlberV 33`1Wi1l befrsiliently` member II,heldtherein.

The present invention has the advantage that the front and rear grippingmembers Ill, II are fundamentally alike in contours and dimensions andmay be struck from the same set of dies. The front gripping member I0will be provided with the slot 25 and the teeth 30. The rear clampingmember II will be provided with the swedged straps 2I and 40, 40together with the apertures for receiving the ends 36 and 39 of themembers 33. f' l, l j

The device may be readily manipulated with the hook mounted upon asupport. In order to release the gripping relationship between theclamping members Ill, II, it is necessary only V"tomolve' the cup-shapedmember 28 upwardly ,with,the -flip of a nger, thereby releasing the edge29 from the teeth 30, 30. The spring I9 "will force-the two clampingmembers apart. In

the relationship betweeny the gripping members I9, I I,` the edge 29V ofsaidfcup-'slhaped ymember entering into and being'heldin oneg'of thegrooves between theA teeth 30, '30.

vIBy 'reason'v of the 'fa'c'ztthatl the coat hangermembers 33, 33 arereadily movable and replaceable', the device may'bealternatively used asa hanger for trouser's,' ski rts or the' like or as a combined hanger'forv such articles togetherwith a' co'atj, If preferred, eachof themembers 33 may be provided with a depressed portion 40 as indicated inbroken'lines lin Figures 1, 2 and 3 for holding the straps of ladiesevening gowns.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen describedin detail, many modications will occur'to those skilled in the art. Itis intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scopeof the appended claims.l j

'What is 'claimed is; y

l. In a. hangen' in combination, a pair of clamping members swungl abouta common axis, means for biasing said clamping members apart,

one` of said clamping members being provided' withia strut disposed -ina plane at right angles to said axis, and link means looped around andslidable on ysaid strut for'locking said clamping members in clampingrelationship v'with each other, said link l means being provided withmeans co-operating' with'the otherv of said clamping members forpreventing said link means from jamming on said'strutr"A clampingmembers swung about a common axis,

' same plane as said `strut and a link looped around Y one of saidclamping members being providedv with' astrut located in a "planesubstantially at right angles to said axis,the other of said clampingmembers having a slot Vin substantially the said strut and slidable insaid slot, said link being provided with a grippingmember for engagingthe outer surface'of said slotted clamping member for releasably holdingsaid clamping membe'rsf in clampingrelationship with each other.

with a strut disposed in a plane at right angles to said axis and linkmeans slidable on said strut for locking said clamping members inclamping relationship with each other, said strut being inclinedrel-ative to its clamping member, being closer thereto adjacent to theswinging edge of said clamping member than at regions adjacent to saidaxis.

4. In a hanger, in combination, a pair of clamping members swung about acommon axis, one of said clamping members being provided with a strutlocated in a plane substantially at right angles to said axis, the otherof said clamping members having a slot in substantially the same planeas said strut and a link looped around said strut and slidable in saidslot, said link being provided with a gripping member for engaging theouter surface of said slotted clamping member for releasably holdingsaid clamping members in clamping relationship with each other, saidstrut being inclined relative to its clamping member, being closerthereto adjacent to the swinging edge of said clamping member than atregions adjacent to said axis.

5. In a hanger, in combination, a rear clamping member, a front clampingmember, a hook member having a straight portion forming an axis forswingingly mounting said clamping members, spring means for urging saidclamping members apart, a strut carried by said portion of said hookmember and secured to said rear clamping member, said strut lying in aplane substantially at right angles to said axis, said front clampingmember being provided with a slot aligned with said strut, and a linkhaving a portion encircling said strut, said link extending through saidslot, the outer surface of said forward clamping member being providedwith teeth, said link having means adapted to engage said teeth forholding said clamping members in a plurality of clamping positions.

6. In a hanger, in combination, a rear clamping member, a front clampingmember, a hook member having a straight portion forming an axis forswingingly mounting said clamping members, spring means for urging saidclamping members apart, a strut carried by said lportion of said hookmember and secured to said rear clamping member, said strut lying in aplane substantially at right angles to said axis, said front clampingmember being provided with a slot aligned with said strut, and a linkhaving a portion encircling said strut, said link extending through saidslot, the outer surface of said forward clamping member being providedwith teeth, said link having means adapted to engage said teeth forholding said clamping members in a plurality of clamping positions, saidstrut being inclined relative to its clamping member, being closerthereto adjacent to the swinging edge of said clamping member than atregions adjacent to said axis.

7. In a hanger, in combination, a pair of clamping members swung about acommon axis,

means for biasing said clamping members apart, one of said clampingmembers being provided with a strut disposed in a plane at right anglesto said axis, link means looped around said strut and slidable thereon,said other clamping member having a slot for slidably receiving saidlink means, said link means being provided with a gripping member forengaging the outer surface of said slotted clamping member forreleasably holding said clamping members in clamping relationship witheach other, said link means having a portion co-operating with the sidesof said slot for preventing jamming of said link means upon said strut.

8. In a hanger, in combination, a pair of clamping members swung about acommon axis, means for biasing said clamping members apart, one of saidclamping members being provided with a strut disposed in a plane atright angles to said axis, link means looped around said strut andslidable thereon, said other clamping member having a slot for slidablyreceiving said link means, said link means being provided with agripping member for engaging the outer surface of said slotted clampingmember for releasably holding said clamping members in clampingrelationship with each other, said link means having a portion(so-operating with the sides of said slot for preventing jamming of saidlink means upon said strut, said strut being inclined relative to itsclamping member, being closer thereto adjacent to the swinging edge ofsaid clamping member than at regions adjacent to said axis.

9. In a hanger, in combination, a rear clamping member, a front clampingmember, la hook member having a `straight portion forming an axis forswingingly mounting said clamping members, spring means for urging saidclamping members apart, a strut carried by said portion of said hookmember and secured to said rear clamping member, said strut lying in aplane substantially at right angles to said axis, said front clampingmember being provided with a slot aligned with said strut, and a linkhaving a portion encircling said strut, said link extending through saidslot, said strut and said front clamping member forming abutments forsaid link, one of said abutments being provided with teeth, said linkhaving means adapted to engage said teeth for holding said clampingmembers in a plurality of clamping positions.

JAMES W. EATON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name i Date 852,951 Harnischfeger May 7,1907 872,587 Spruce Dec. 3, 1907 1,018,056 Hincher Feb. 20, 19122,337,723 Levin Dec. 17, 1942 2,419,791 Phillips Apr. 29, 1947

